Using duck scarecrows to attract birds during hunting is a long time ago invented technique of experienced hunters. You can buy this curiosity either in a specialized store, or do it yourself. The second option is more economical, because most materials are available and do not cost a lot of money. It is possible to make not only simple options, but also complex ones, for example, a mechanical stuffed duck.
What is the use of stuffed animals
This device is necessary in order to attract the attention of birds flying by. It is most practical to use stuffed ducks in the spring, because it was at this time that the drakes, feeling the call of nature, begin to search for a mate for procreation. In the autumn months, when forming flocks for flying to warm countries, it is also advisable to use them.
In order for the hunt to succeed, it is recommended to follow the following rules:
- The bait should be installed in an open area where there are no dense thickets. This will provide excellent visibility to her live ducks.
- When placing a dummy, it is worth considering the place of shelling. If the purpose of hunting is a river duck, then it is best to opt for shallow water, and if we are talking about diving birds, then a deeper part of the reservoir is ideal.
- It is recommended to form a small group of stuffed animals, setting a distance of about four meters between them.
- When landing fake birds, it is also worth considering what force and in which direction the wind blows, because this will have a significant impact on the place where the ducks will land.
If you follow these simple rules, you can achieve significant success in the hunt.
Polyfoam as a material for making stuffed animals
To make a stuffed duck with your own hands, you can use the well-known foam. It will turn out to find the right material in any construction market, and the production itself will not take as much time as it seems.
Before you begin, you must prepare the following things:
- polystyrene with a thickness of at least 2 cm, because thinner pieces have drawbacks: plates can begin to crumble, and the floating properties will leave much to be desired;
- superglue (When using nitro glue material damage occurs);
- acrylic paints;
- putty;
- paint brushes;
- a simple pencil;
- stationery knife;
- sand paper.
Step by step recommendations
First of all, you need to find the picture where the duck is depicted and print in such a format so that it is as close as possible to its natural size. Failure to comply with this advice will result in live birds not paying any attention to the dummy.
- Printed pictures cut out patterns. Contours and separately wings are transferred to a dense cardboard.
- Cardboard patterns will be needed to work with polystyrene to cut out the details. Two parts are needed, from which then the body and wings will be formed, also in the amount of two pieces.
- Parts are glued together to obtain a volumetric dummy, then the workpiece is placed under the press. For better bonding, it should be left overnight.
- A clerical knife is needed to give the stuffed duck a more realistic shape. Smooth bends are made in the right places, if necessary, details are added to get the perfect craft.
- A keel must be attached to the bottom of the workpiece, a metal-plastic pipe is suitable here. If the need arises, then it will be possible to install an additional load without problems, which will help the stuffed duck to gain stability in the water.
- To eliminate the bumps you will need sandpaper.
- Using putty, the joints are removed, and then the scarecrow is left to dry.
- Acrylic paints will help bring the layout to perfection, but you need to use colors that are suitable for the breed of ducks that you plan to hunt.
This is the first production of stuffed ducks for hunting.
Plywood stuffed animal
This type of blank is one of the simplest options for making a stuffed duck. However, simplicity is not always indicated by quality, the main minus of such a workpiece is its fragility. This is due to the fact that due to the constant presence in the water, plywood will quickly become unusable.
If there is time, then you can start creating several profiles, they will serve as an imitation of various poses in which there will be stuffed ducks and geese.
What is needed from materials
To make a stuffed duck for plywood hunting, you will need to get the following things:
- thick cardboard;
- with a simple pencil;
- sheet plywood;
- a hacksaw with small cloves;
- emery paper;
- drying oil;
- tassels;
- metal wire;
- wooden pegs;
- gasoline;
- oil paints.
Manufacturing technology
Profiles in the right amount and with different shapes are applied to the cardboard. Then you need to cut blanks that will serve as templates.
- Templates are laid out on plywood and profiles are cut with a hacksaw.
- All edges need to be properly treated using sandpaper.
- Billets are processed with hot drying oil, after which it is necessary to wait for it to dry.
- To betray the stuffed animal realism, oil paints are used. It is recommended to paint all plywood at the same time for their identical appearance.
- You can neutralize the gloss from the paint with gasoline. It is applied to a dry surface in a small amount.
- It remains to equip the profiles with wooden pegs or short metal tubes. For ease of transportation, these parts are made removable, and so that they do not attract excessive attention of birds, they are applied the same color as the stuffed animals.
- The stability of the workpieces is provided by a wire connection.
Conclusion
Each hunter can make a stuffed duck with his own hands, it does not take much time. How effective the workpieces will turn out to depend on the correctness of the manufacture of layouts and compliance with the proposed recommendations.